Wire stretcher



United States Patent 3,331,587 WIRE STRETCHER Guy D. Jaquish, Tamal,Calif. (Box W, Los Padres, Calif. 93401) Filed Apr. 20, 1966, Ser. No.543,855 4 Claims. (Cl. 254-162) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wirestretcher which includes a rigid elongate concave bracket, two chainsand boomers for securing the bracket to one side of a post, a supportbar extending from the back and proximate one end and one side of thebracket toward a point spaced rearwardly of the center of the bracket, asecond support bar extending outwardly laterally from the bracket and toa point intermediate the ends of the bracket, a shaft rotatably carriedon the distal ends of the support rods, a pulley on one end of the shaftfor pulling a wire from the other side of the post and exerting theforce from the wire substantially parallelly on the one side of the postand a crank on the other end of the shaft for taking up the wire on thepulley is disclosed.

This invention relates to a device for stretching wire in the buildingof a wire fence, and more particularly to a simple, compact, lightweight wire stretcher for tensioning barbed wire, chicken wire,hurricane fencing and the like.

As conducive to an understanding of the instant invention, it should benoted that the installation of a wire fence usually requires theinstallation of a plurality of upstanding fence posts followed by anattachment of a plurality of single wires or a woven wire mesh to thefence posts. Prior to the attachment of the wire to the fence post, eachstrand or the mesh must be tightened to prevent sagging and to provide aneatly appearing fence.

The tightening of the wire prior to attachment to the fence posts isnormally performed by devices known collectively as wire stretchers. Thewire stretchers of the prior art generally comprise a large stablefoundation, a means for grasping the wire to be tensioned, and means forpulling or rotating the attachment. Because of the requirement of alarge stable base, the wire stretchers of the prior art are generallyheavy and bulky and consequently preclude a single individual frommoving the wire stretcher from place to place. Accordingly, theconstruction of a fence normally requires a number of people to performall the tasks at hand.

It is accordingly an object of the instant invention to provide a wirestretcher of a simple, light weight and easily movable nature to allow asingle individual to conduct the fence building operation.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a wire stretcherwhich does not require a large bulky base thereby allowing theconstruction of a light weight portable device.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a wirestretcher which is constructed and arranged to use the fence post as asupport or base.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a wirestretching device having a fence post grasping means so that the wirestretcher may easily be attached to the fence post.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in thecombinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features ofconstruction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter anddisclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferredembodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the wire stretcher of the instantinvention illustrated as aflixed to a fence post during the stretchingof a single stnand of wire;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational View of an implement interconnecting thewire stretcher of the instant invention with a wire mesh fencing; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the wire attachment implement of FIGURE3, certain parts being broken away for purposes of illustration.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like referencecharacters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof,and more particularly to FIG- URES l and 2, there is indicated generallyat 10 a wire stretcher made in accordance with the principles of theinstant invention releasably secured to a fence post 12 tensioning asingle strand of barbed wire 14. Wire stretcher 10 has as its majorcomponents a fence post grasping means shown generally at 16, aplurality of supports shown generally at 18 extending rearwardly fromgrasping means 16 and forming a pair of aligned bearings 20 on the endthereof, a wire engaging means shown generally at 22 rotatably mountedin bearings 20 and power mean-s shown generally at 24 for rotating wireengaging means 22. to tension strand 14. In the operation of wirestretcher 10, fence post grasping means 16 will be affixed to post 12followed by the attachment of strand 14 to wire engaging means 22. Powermeans 24 will then be actuated to rotate wire engaging means 22 totighten ,strand 14. After stnand 14 is sufficiently tight, a stapler(not shown) may be used to affix strand 14 to post 12 in a conventionalmanner.

Fence post grasping means 16 includes a concave bracket 26 receivingfence post 12 and is preferably made of an angled plate best seen inFIGURE 2. Each of a pair of elongate flexible member's shown generallyat 28, illustrated as a chain having a plurality of interlocked links30, is secured at one end thereof by a pin 32 to one side of bracket 26.Connecting the other end of each chain 28 to bracket 26 is a boomershown generally at 34 having a pair of spaced apart links 36 fixedlysecured to bracket 26 by a pivotal connection 38 and a handle 40pivotally mounted between links 36 by a pin 42. The terminal link ofchain 28 is releasably affixed to a pin 44 on handle 40 such that thepivotal movement of handle 40 to the position shown in FIGURE 1 acts totighten chain 28. It should be apparent that links 36 are spaced ratherwidely apart to accommodate both handle 40 and links 3t) therebetween.

Each of supports 18 includes a generally tubular member 46 fixedlysecured to bracket 26 at opposite ends thereof and a rod 48 fixedlymounted in tube 46 by a fastener 50, such as a set screw, pin or thelike. It should be apparent, however, that each support 18 may be asolid member. Positioned on the end of rods 48 in aligned relation are apair of bearings 20 having suitable grease fittings 52 for lubricatingthe surfaces between bearings 20 and a shaft 54 rotatably mountedtherein.

Afiixed to the end of shaft 54 by a suitable key 56 or the like, is awire engaging means 22 having a central web 58 supporting acircumferential concave band 69. Band 60 forms a pair of transverseslots 62, 64 for afiixing strand 14 to wire engaging means 22. Strand 14is secured to reel 22 by extending the terminus thereof through slot 62,then across the outer edge of band 60 and through slot 64 to underliestrand 14. It will be evident that a slight rotation of band 60 willbind the terminus of strand 14 under an intermediate portion thereof.

Releasably mounted on the other end of shaft 54, as by com ating splinesand grooves or the like, is power means 24 illustrated as a crank arm 66having a handle 68 mounted thereon in a conventional manner by a bolt 70and nut 72. It will be apparent that a rotation of crank arm 66 will actto rotate reel 22 to tighten wire 14.

In order to prevent counter-rotation of crank arm 66 and circumferentialband 60, a one-way brake shown generally at 74 is provided between shaft54 and support 18. Brake 74 includes a toothed wheel 76 mounted on shaft54 for rotation therewith and a spring biased catch shown generally at73 for engaging toothed wheel 76 to preclude reverse rotation of crankarm 66. Catch 73 includes a dog 80 mounted on a collar 82 which isaifixed to bearing by a bolt 84. It should be understood that collar 82includes a spring (not shown) rotatably biasing collar 82 and dog 80toward toothed Wheel 76.

Since the teeth on wheel 76 include an angled face and a substantiallyvertical face, crank arm 66 and shaft 54 are allowed to rotate in thedirection indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 2. An attempt at rotatingwheel 76 in a reverse direction causes the juxtaposition of the verticaltooth face of wheel 76 and dog 86 thereby stopping inadvertent reverserotation of shaft 54. When the individual desires to release tension onwire 14, as after the stapling of wire 14 to post 12, he may graspcollar 82 and rotate it against the spring force to release the engagement between dog 89 and toothed wheel 76.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, an implement shown generally at 86allows the use of wire stretcher 10 with a mesh fencing 88. Implement 86is a two piece structure, preferably of metal, including a first plate90 having a plunality of pegs 92 spaced therealong as shown in FIGURE 4and a second plate 94 having a plurality of apertures 96 spaced toreceive pegs 92.

In the assembly of implement 86 onto mesh fencing 88, first plate 90will be positioned adjacent fencing 88 with pegs 92 extending throughthe mesh. Second plate 94 will then be positioned on the other side offencing 88 such that pegs 92 are received in apertures 96. Plates 9%, 94are then secured together by a pair of fastening means shown generallyat 98, each of which include a bolt 160 affixed to plate 90 andextending through an aperture in plate 94 to present a threaded terminuson which is positioned a wing nut 102.

Securing implement 86 to wire engaging means 22 is a harness showngenerally at 104 comprising a pair of hooks 106 on the end of each bolt100, a loose wire 168 looped between hooks 106, a ring support 110intermediate Wire 108 and a strand 112 interconnecting ring fastener 116to circumferential band 60 in the manner previously described. Ringfastener 110 includes a toroidal structure 114 threaded on the innerside to receive a threaded wing bolt 116 for selectively afiixing wire110 to toroidal structure 114.

There is one ditficulty apparent in the utilization of wire stretcher 10of the instant invention with a wire mesh fencing. This resides in theconstruction and arrangement of fence post grasping means 16 and theutilization of fence post 12 in lieu of a base or foundation. If wirestretcher 10 were used on the fence post without necessary precautionsand mesh fencing 88 were stapled to fence post 12, it would be quitedifficult to remove elongate members 28 from around post 12. This may bealleviate-d in any number of manners, as by notching fence post 12 witha hatchet or by sequentially releasing elongate members 28 and threadingthem through mesh fencing 28 and reattaching them to bracket 26.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, there is a specific and important angularand spacial relationship between the support rods 18 and the bracket 26.One support rod ex- .tends from the rear of the elongate concave bracket26 at a point proximate one end and one side thereof upwardly andslightly inw ardly toward a center line perpendicular to the bracketaxes, that is the longitudinal and lateral axes. The upward direction isbest shown in FIGURE 1 and the inward direction is best shown in FIGURE2. The second support bar extends from the back of bracket 26 from apoint proximate the other end and the other side of the bracketdownwardly toward the center line longitudinally but diverginglyoutwardly therefrom laterally, the downward angular disposition beingshown best in FIGURE 1 and the diverging lateral disposition being shownbest in FIGURE 2. Thus, the bearings 20 are positioned so as to carryshaft 54 rotatably in disposition perpendicularly to the longitudinalaxis and spaced intermediately of the ends of the bracket 26. The Wireengaging means on pulleys22 is mounted on the end of the shaft nearestthe distal end of the first support rod so that a center line extendingperpendicularly from the pulley axiswould pass closely adjacent the oneside of the bracket. The crank 24 is secured to the other end of theshaft. This disposition of the pulley on one side of the bracket and thecrank in substantially spaced relation on the other side of the bracketpermits the force exerted by wire 14 extending from the other side ofthe post to be exerted substantially parallelly with the direction ofthe wire on the one side of the post by means of bracket 26. Thus, thereis very little angular pull such as would tend to rotate the wirestretcher on the post and, more importantly, virtually all of the forceexerted on the crank system 24 is transmitted to the Wire, which is notthe case where this highly desired angular relationship does not exist.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an im proved Wire stretcherwhich accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of the instantinvention and others, including many advantages of great practicalutility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, andsince. many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbeforeshown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A wire stretcher which comprises:

a rigid elongate concave bracket adapted to engage one side of a fencepost in substantially parallel relation thereto;

an elongate flexible member secured at one end to the bracket;

means on the bracket for securing the flexible memher around the post;

a first support bar extending from the back and proximate one side andone end of the bracket toward a center line perpendicular to the bracketaxes;

a second support bar extending from the back and proximate the otherside and the other end of the bracket toward said center line verticallyand diverging outwardly therefrom laterally;

beiring members on the distal ends of said support ars:

a rotatable shaft extending through said bearing members perpendicularlyto the longitudinal axis of the bracket in intermediate spaced relationthereto;

a pulley having at least one wire receiving slot therein on the shaftadjacent the distal end of the first support bar such that the centerline perpendicular to the pulley axis passes closely adjacent the oneside of the bracket; and

power means on the other end of the shaft, said power means and saidpulley being disposed on opposite sides of the bracket with the powermeans being spaced a substantial distance beyond the side of the bracketsuch that in use the force exerted by .a wire extending from the otherside of the post is exerted substantially parallel to said wire on theone side of the post by said bracket.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of the support rods comprise:

a first hollowed segment fixedly secured to said bracket in said angularrelationship therewith;

a second segment secured by means of said bearing members to said shaftfor being received in said first segment; and

means for securing said second segment in said first segment.

3. The invention of claim 2 further comprising:

a toothed Wheel secured on the shaft between and bearing on the secondsupport rod and the power means; and

a dog selectively engageable with said toothed Wheel for selectivelypreventing rotation of the shaft in one direction.

4. The invention of claim 3 further comprising:

a second elongate flexible member and a second securing means on thebracket; and wherein the securing means are boomers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Forbes 254-161 X Andrew 254-161 XReese 254-161 X Kinsella 254-83 Riley 254-162 Gleason 254-162 Kidd254-162 Mundt 254-162 Noel] 254-163 Wagoner 254-162 Harmony 254-186 X 15WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner.

1. A WIRE STRETCHER WHICH COMPRISES: A RIGID ELONGATE CONCAVE BRACKETADAPTED TO ENGAGE ONE SIDE OF A FENCE POST IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARELLELRELATION THERETO; AN ELONGATE FLEXIBLE MEMBER SECURED AT ONE END TO THEBRACKET; MEANS ON THE BRACKET FOR SECURING THE FLEXIBLE MEMBER AROUNDTHE POST; A FIRST SUPPORT BAR EXTENDING FROM THE BACK AND PROXIMATE ONESIDE AND ONE END OF THE BRACKET TOWARD A CENTER LINE PERPENDICULAR TOTHE BRACKET AXES; A SECOND SUPPORT BAR EXTENDING FROM THE BACK ANDPROXIMATE THE OTHER SIDE AND THE OTHER END OF THE BRACKET TOWARD SAIDCENTER LINE VERTICALLY AND DIVERGING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM LATERALLY;BEARING MEMBERS ON THE DISTAL ENDS OF SAID SUPPORT BARS; A ROTATABLESHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BEARING MEMBERS PERPENDICULARLY TO THELONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BRACKET IN INTERMEDIATE SPACED RELATIONTHERETO; A PULLEY HAVING AT LEAST ONE WIRE RECEIVING SLOT THEREIN ON THESHAFT ADJACENT THE DISTAL END OF THE FIRST SUPPORT BAR SUCH THAT THECENTER LINE PERPENDICULAR TO THE PULLEY AXIS PASSES CLOSELY ADJACENT TOONE SIDE OF THE BRACKET; AND POWER MEANS ON THE OTHER END OF THE SHAFT,SAID POWER MEANS AND SAID PULLEY BEING DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEBRACKET WITH THE POWER MEANS BEING SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BEYONDTHE SIDE OF THE BRACKET SUCH THAT IN USE THE FORCE EXERTED BY A WIREEXTENDING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POST IS EXERTED SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL TO SAID WIRE ON THE ONE SIDE OF THE POST BY SAID BRACKET.